Jar Time w/ Jeff: Vegas Is A Jar-Free Zone 02/05/2014

@jeff

What if instead of Street Fighter 4 that the fighting game fans got, a game came out called Street Fighter 4 by the company that owns the brand and it was a micro transaction laden Angry Birds clone? And then no efforts were ever made to make a good new fighting game with that series. How would you feel? How would that reflect on the state of the fighting games today?

Sometimes I just feel like a little introspection is in order. Being dismissive of people attitudes towards something they loved being exploited in a cash grab (instead of making a good game of the same type) is easy when you personally have no love for that thing yourself. Or even just made into something completely different from what people loved that game/thing for in the first place. (Syndicate, Fallout, Xcom for example)

Remember how you described your feelings on Toe Jam& Earl sequel? And that was far far less of an infraction. Or what you liked about Strider. There are about a dozen examples over the years (that I can't recall right now on the spot) of games you loved being mentioned and how some company is not doing right by them or the reverse, during bombcasts and jar-time and such. In those instances, you are the old man. :) Just like others are towards games/franchises they enjoyed.

On the other hand, how great is it when something people enjoyed in the past and have fond memories of gets it's proper due in some form? Xcom:EU, Deus ex:HR, Shadowrun Returns? Or that Double Fine got to make a new pure point and click adventure game? It doesn't have to be for you personally but it's still heart warming seeing people get this stuff.

As a somewhat related topic. Just because something shitty is done by everyone and is commonplace doesn't mean people shouldn't call attention to such shitty practices. Imo it's better to criticize such things even if it might be too late to do any significant impact right this instant. Bad practices aren't going to ever go away (or at least not be as egregious) if we just shrug and accept them. Even if ultimately the market forces are the primary driver. Some tablet/phone free to play games manage to provide people with a good enough and pleasant enough experience where the player is not forced in your face into microtransactions (like say Kingdom Rush that Brad liked), bad games will be bad games, and some microtransaction models are worse then others. That's for example one of the other reasons people called out the new Dungeon Keeper because of how extremely egregious they are in it.

Overall I guess I just don't agree with the passive attitude and acceptance of bad shit, just because others do it, or because it's not personally relevant. That's just me. I'd rather point the finger and say "yo screw that, that's shitty, don't fucking do it". Sometimes enough people (or influential enough voices) say that and small positive changes do occur. The same goes for acknowledging the positive things. After all even GB does as much at the end of the year!

Just like I don't agree with dismissing people's feelings on old games they loved being made into something very different, while saying those same things yourself (if not being quite as vocal/angry about it) when it comes to franchises you liked. A little empathy never hurt anyone. Still, this is already a far cry from straight up shitting on old fallout fans :)

Anyway keep up the good work.

The look on Jeff's face when he describes how complaining about micro transactions should've happened 2 years ago is priceless.

Oke i am stupid here, but what is the name of that song again at the beginning?

Does Jeff say it "V-eh-gus" ironically? Like Ryan used to say rowbutt, batmen, and zambees?

Vague-us

That game had issues gameplay and level-design wise, but I loved the look of DK. Loved that weirdo fur tech. I'm not sure what "pubic hair" you're comparing it to...it just looked like a furry animal. It showed up in both Mario Galaxy games on the queen bee too. He was so burly and tough looking, but also like you could totally cuddle with him? I actually liked the character design in Jungle Beat more than the look of Returns, but to each his own.

In terms of CPU, no the PS2 was more powerful. But in terms of AWESOME, certainly the Dreamcast.

Miyamoto recently claimed that he had never criticized that game and/or was mis-quoted... Here I found the source.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/06/17/e3-2010-shigeru-miyamoto-likes-donkey-kong-country-after-all?page=3

Miyamoto: The first point that I want to make is that I actually worked very closely with Rare on the original Donkey Kong Country. And apparently recently some rumor got out that I didn't really like that game? I just want to clarify that that's not the case, because I was very involved in that. And even emailing almost daily with Tim Stamper right up until the end.

Big Pimpin' by Jay-Z

@thatonedudenick: THANK YOU very much!!! Very apreciated:)

That DKC blasphemy almost rivals the Yoshi's Island hate! Unbelievable!

that is a proper rugged beard

Thanks Big Jeffrey. Always a pleasure to listen to what you have to say.

An Ipod dock that doesn't work!? What is that place, Sochi!?

RIP http://realultimatepower.net/

As for the Dreamcast: SoulCalibur and Project Justice if you like fighting games.

Pinnacle of Bomberman: Battle, Victory, Draw, Champion!

As for it being too late to complain about free to play bullshit, it's NEVER too late. It's like complaining about it back then and people telling you "you're overreacting, it won't get this bad". Absolute shit games like this Dungeon Keeper mobile game need to be put on a pillory.

@l33t_haxor: Yeah, he eventually pretended he never said that. He totally did though. It's even in GB's wiki page for him!

Miyamoto once criticized Donkey Kong Country for using pre-rendered 3D graphics (Which was new at the time), stating that "Donkey Kong Country proves that players will put up with mediocre gameplay as long as the art is good." He later apologized, saying he had been harsh due to Nintendo pressuring him at the time to make Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island similar to Donkey Kong Country.

I also somewhat attribute it to Miyamoto being the big man at Nintendo behind everything until DKC. He was never upstaged before. Its petty really.

Jeff really doesn't like Donkey Kong.

As a fellow non-gambler I completely agree with Jeff about Vegas. I was dragged there once for a stag weekend and i spent the next 48 hours utterly convinced it was hell on earth. I hope I never again have to set foot in that cesspit.

jeff suits a beard

Shenmue, Grandia and Skies made that system for me. Except for Skies these don't really exist outside of the original Dreamcast.

My wife and I still play "Pen Pen Tri-Icelon" to this fucking day. Average, but in a way, really great game.

It's very clear at this point that these mobile "free to play" designers are more about gambling than gaming. The trend is very dangerous, not only to individual 'gamblers' who end up the whales these games prey on, but also for the gaming business which does NOT benefit from being associated with gambling in any way, shape or form. Nothing good can nor will come from it.

These people, these "game designers", are literally working to destroy the industry. People who keep saying "you don't have to pl?ay if you don't want to, ''it's fine''" (for instance the noted apologist Shoemaker) are deluded and completely lacking in foresight.

It's just a matter of time until politicians latch on with a cry of "save the children". Then you'll know we're screwed for real.

Mobile games? Just say NO!

Thanks for answering my question Jeff. Also, thanks to others for their Dreamcast suggestions.

Teach us Doctor Tracksuit.

Please take care of yourself Jeff. Don't make your mother and I worry.

@tennmuerti: I actually agree with Jeff's stance on this.

He says how fucked it is in how such microtransactions make games not fun to play, but on the other hand points out how this business model is more the norm on this platform than anything else. If they hadn't called it Dungeon Keeper people wouldn't have cared, because a lot of the people now up in arms about it haven't cared about the issue the last few years. This has been a long time coming, look at Square Enix' adventures on the mobile platforms for example.

That's not to say people are wrong to speak up now, and I don't think Jeff is saying that either. It's just that it's way too late. Look at how Dungeon Keeper was rated on iOS before this blew up (I expect it to have a lower rating now because of more traitional gamers downvoting it): Out of more than 4000 votes, it had a score of over 4/5. People who play these games on mobile platforms clearly don't care about this, probably because it's been going on for so long and most of them don't really know any alternative to this business model. It's just too late, the platform will continue to be riddled W

with this bullshit because there's clearly a demand for it and all me and you can do is to speak up about it on the consoles/PC where it's not as common or as accepted yet.

All we can hope for is that the major publishers don't continue to drag beloved franchised through the iOS mud.

If I'm making the assumption that Big Pimpin', a song by a still-relevant but 'been around the block for a while now' artist like Jay-Z, can't be recognized in a 5 second random sound clip, that makes me feel EXTREMELY OLD when it totally should not.

But please, tell me my assumption is wrong. PLEASE.

This link Patrick tweeted is really my biggest problem with Dungeon Keeper. Made sure to give it 1 star on Google Play. Microtransactions aren't great, but keeping users from giving negative feedback in a public forum is complete bullshit. If I'm going to give EA money to play Dungeon Keeper the way they want me to play it, I have a right to see what users really think of the game.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/210168/EA_downplays_Dungeon_Keeper_freetoplay_criticisms.php

I wouldn't trust Goatee Jeff. He just looks like he's up to no good. Probably hiding from the cops.

Also he's talking real low and pacing around like he's explaining to us why he had to cook all that meth.

@heatdrive88: don't panic.

Thanks for taking my question, Jeff.

I'm glad you're driven and ambitious Jeff! Keep ot up.

As for Dreamcast, look up the "Shooter Packs" you can acquire.

fuck Jeff, DKC and DKC 2 have fantastic level design, amazing soundtracks, and UNIQUE visuals

Jeff's lack of enthusiasm for the golden god that is the Super Nintendo shows clearer and clearer everyday. He did immerse himself in that system and it's library very much at all at the time, and it's a damn shame

Always nice to listen to some honost talk about games :-)

And the new videoplayer works better thanks!

pretty awesome show. some interesting points.

personally I like the new site stuff and the video player is much better

I'm not going to sit here and say that Donkey Kong Country is the best platformer, but those games are pretty damn great. They control well, and I still like the way they look all these years later. They also have some pretty fantastic music. Part of my love for the soundtrack is nostalgia, as most video game music tends to be for me, but I doubt I'm the only one that gets like that. So yea, I've got nothing against you Jeff, but you're totally wrong about Donkey Kong Country. I'm sorry I had to break the news to ya, buddy. Thanks for the check-in from Dice, though. Bring your own jar next time.

TOO LATE MIDLIFE CRISIS STARTS NOW FUCK

EVERYBODY SEND MORE QUERSTIONS

really enjoyed this style of video just simple candid open talk......and the room service cart cameo in the background gave me a good laugh

@amyggen: I am not trying to argue as to why people suddenly cared about this particular release, Jeff is spot on in regards to that. That was kind of besides the points I was making. It's never too late to criticize imo nor to acknowledge where other people are coming from. As to why the ratings were so high, here is some interesting info: https://twitter.com/patrickklepek/status/431461612889710592

@tennmuerti: If I'm reading that correctly, that only applies to Android, and not even Google Play? What I saw was from iOS, as shown in Nerdcube's video about the game (I think it was iOS?). Mobile gamers don't know any alternatives to this model and seem more than willing to accept it. And yeah, pretty fucking scummy by EA, but that's to be expected at this point I Guess.

I love Jeff

Had to pause the video and listen to Big Pimpin' before this video could continue.

ohhh room service, fancy :P

Big Pimpin' is the only song you need.

Weird without a jar!

Jar Time is always the best time.

Guys, keep sending questions to Jeff. JAR TIME CANNOT DIE. Tumblr and Twitter answers aren't nearly as thorough as they are on these videos.

Great! Jar Time is easily one of the best features on the site. Keep the jars coming!

So much standing and pacing! Made me a little uncomfortable. Anyways, thanks Jeff, great Jar Time as always!

Jar not confirmed. Jartime is beyond jars, though. I think mixlr is within the jartime sphere grid.